tropical cyclone

American  

[trop-i-kuhl sahy-klohn] / ˈtrɒp ɪ kəl ˈsaɪ kloʊn /

noun

Meteorology.

1. a warm-core cyclone that originates over a tropical ocean area, generally beginning as a tropical depression and having the potential to intensify and develop into a hurricane or typhoon, classifications that depend on where the storm is occurring.

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tropical cyclone Scientific  

/ trŏp′ĭ-kəl /

1. See under cyclone

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Etymology

Origin of tropical cyclone

First recorded in 1915–20

Compare meaning

How does tropical-cyclone compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• tropical cyclone vs. hurricane
• tropical cyclone vs. tropical storm

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tropical cyclone

However, the institute said that the weather pattern could influence tropical cyclone activity in the central and east Pacific and could change the risk of floods, wildfires and other extreme weather elsewhere.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

"El Nino may influence tropical cyclone activity in the Central and East Pacific and could alter the risk of floods, wildfires, and other weather extremes elsewhere," it said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

Patricia holds the record as the strongest tropical cyclone ever observed, with winds reaching up to 185 knots -- powerful enough to qualify as a Category 7 storm, if such a category existed, Lin said.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 25, 2025

The cyclone was travelling towards the Northern Territory for the past few days and was expected to make landfall as a category 2 tropical cyclone.

From Barron's ● Nov. 21, 2025

My mind spun like the vortex of a tropical cyclone.

From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd